Stainless steel rocker panels - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

lts70 · 10-08-2015, 06:12 PM

Is there a company out there that produces stainless steel rocker panels for our trucks? It sure would be nice not to have to worry about rust in that area. Put new rocker panels in my daily driver 16 years ago. And now they are roached out again needing replacement both inners and outers

Xeen · 10-08-2015, 07:05 PM

Remove the regular steel rockers and then take them to a metal fabricator and tell him to reproduce them in detail in stainless.

EARNHARDT#3 · 10-08-2015, 07:21 PM

I was thinking about this the other day. When installing new rockers, why not cut the bottoms off and coat the inner side with POR15? They'd be protected by the POR15 and they'd also be open so they would dry out all the time and not hold moisture. You wouldn't be able to see that there's no bottom unless you looked underneath.

Redline novdog · 10-08-2015, 07:49 PM

That would be a 70k truck,piece by piece stamp it stainless. put it together,BAM timeless! Hope somebody does it. that would be sweet! I have not heard of stainless panels,but maybe you are on to something its70!!!! I'm In!!

**FirstOwner69** · 10-08-2015, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redline novdog

That would be a 70k truck,piece by piece stamp it stainless. put it together,BAM timeless! Hope somebody does it. that would be sweet! I have not heard of stainless panels,but maybe you are on to something its70!!!! I'm In!!

The truck John DeLorean would have built?!?!?!?!?!

tommys72 · 10-08-2015, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FirstOwner69

The truck John DeLorean would have built?!?!?!?!?!

You beat me to it, I was gonna say the same thing

lts70 · 10-08-2015, 09:20 PM

I wonder how much harder it would be for the companies that build the steel rockers to stamp them out of stainless. I know I would pay the premium for the upgrade.

Jrainman · 10-08-2015, 09:21 PM

the reason why it is not done is the fact of welding two different types of metals is difficult to weld , being SS has very low carbon amounts

it is not that it cant be done but you really have to have good equipment to get good results ,

Tig or brazing would give best results though,

Well there is always the new Ford aluminum body F150

I will say I am not a Ford guy but the paint on those new aluminum body f150 is something to look at , I looked at one at a outdoor show in a dark green and the paint was amazing almost flawless

bill3rail · 10-08-2015, 09:36 PM

Would love to see a set of these! I'm not a welder and I was curious about dissimilar metal welding procedures...

Bill

In The Ten Ring · 10-09-2015, 01:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jrainman

the reason why it is not done is the fact of welding two different types of metals is difficult to weld , being SS has very low carbon amounts

it is not that it cant be done but you really have to have good equipment to get good results ,

Tig or brazing would give best results though,

Well there is always the new Ford aluminum body F150

I will say I am not a Ford guy but the paint on those new aluminum body f150 is something to look at , I looked at one at a outdoor show in a dark green and the paint was amazing almost flawless

I am a novice welder but I am in a welding class. I thought the same thing concerning the welds.

*Fitz* · 10-09-2015, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jrainman

the reason why it is not done is the fact of welding two different types of metals is difficult to weld , being SS has very low carbon amounts

it is not that it cant be done but you really have to have good equipment to get good results ,

Tig or brazing would give best results though,

Well there is always the new Ford aluminum body F150

I will say I am not a Ford guy but the paint on those new aluminum body f150 is something to look at , I looked at one at a outdoor show in a dark green and the paint was amazing almost flawless

You forgot that the weld is now a mixture of metals and corrosion starts aggressively at the weld line due to electrically dissimilar metals coming together with moisture!

**michael bustamante** · 10-09-2015, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jrainman

the reason why it is not done is the fact of welding two different types of metals is difficult to weld , being SS has very low carbon amounts

it is not that it cant be done but you really have to have good equipment to get good results ,

Tig or brazing would give best results though,

Well there is always the new Ford aluminum body F150

I will say I am not a Ford guy but the paint on those new aluminum body f150 is something to look at , I looked at one at a outdoor show in a dark green and the paint was amazing almost flawless

i actually read Chevrolet is going to be doing the same thing to our chevy and GMC trucks

*ck5566* · 07-27-2016, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jrainman

the reason why it is not done is the fact of welding two different types of metals is difficult to weld , being SS has very low carbon amounts

it is not that it cant be done but you really have to have good equipment to get good results ,

Tig or brazing would give best results though,

Well there is always the new Ford aluminum body F150

I will say I am not a Ford guy but the paint on those new aluminum body f150 is something to look at , I looked at one at a outdoor show in a dark green and the paint was amazing almost flawless

The Aluminum body of the F150's has *"NOTHING"* TO DO WITH A GOOD PAINT JOB that my friend is whats called a GREAT PAINTER THAT WENT BEYOND THE Call of DUTY. To get a *"FLAT"* Paint Job takes a lot on sanding to flatten down the Clear Coat. You just happened to find that needle in the hay stack of good paint jobs that just happened to be painted by a **ROBOT** not a Human. *"Human Painters"* are the only way to get a good paint job. If there is enough Clear on any thing it will look good.

My Experience comes from working in a Auto Body Collision Center.

drewbert41 · 10-08-2015, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lts70

Is there a company out there that produces stainless steel rocker panels for our trucks? It sure would be nice not to have to worry about rust in that area. Put new rocker panels in my daily driver 16 years ago. And now they are roached out again needing replacement both inners and outers

16 years ago did you do anything to seal the insides of them when installing? Or did you do the same thing GM did and just leave the insides bare metal?

Clavo106 · 10-09-2015, 03:41 AM

SS ???? /// IF THIS WAS NEVER GOING TO BE PAINTED IT WOULD BE OK./ .. it would probably be better to make the hole truck made of aluminum lite weight and you would just have to polish it every so often. my 2cents

**special-K** · 10-09-2015, 07:48 AM

The problem is when stainless touches steel it ain't so stainless anymore. You need all stainless or it will give out where they meet. Just look at a stainless exhaust system. Anywhere the metal mixes is where they fail.

EARNHARDT#3 · 10-09-2015, 11:03 AM

Slap em on with seam sealer LOL

dell72 · 10-09-2015, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EARNHARDT#3

Slap em on with seam sealer LOL

You could use panel bond adhesive like some new cars use.

kingstrider · 10-09-2015, 11:37 AM

FWIW "stainless" is a misnomer and will rust given the right conditions. Even the highest grade of stainless steels found in guns or knives will rust if not cared for. Seems like a long run for a short slide to me.

*ck5566* · 07-27-2016, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dell72

You could use panel bond adhesive like some new cars use.

You would be surprised on how much is used on cars now days.

DarkFlounder · 10-09-2015, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EARNHARDT#3

Slap em on with seam sealer LOL

Pop rivets worked for my dad, they'll work for this!

**Ironangel** · 10-09-2015, 12:42 PM

I like the idea and would spring for the difference in material costs. As for the welding aspect? The high carbon T-309E is the "stainless to mild steel" alloy in wire or stick and I never seen a rocker rust out at the welds so it's a very doable endeavor. I'm a retired certified welder, it was my job for 40 years to know these things...Aluminum? Now there's a different breed of cat. Nobody's come up with the weld process for aluminum to steel, "yet." As far as those Fords go, the whole fastening process of panel to panel and body to frame has changed completely. No welds involved and are fastened with high tech rivets that bond the aluminum when they are shot into place by mainly robots. I was fortunate enough to work for Ford at the Claycomo truck plant installing some of the various conveyor systems through the years...That's why I drive Old Chevy's!

WarMonger · 10-09-2015, 02:03 PM

you got 16 years out of the last set. That is pretty good. Just put new ones on and go another 16.

BrianG · 10-09-2015, 03:10 PM

I've thought about trying to spay some oil up in the drain holes of mine every so often. Is this a good, or bad idea. If this might help them, what oil or spay should I try spraying up there?

EARNHARDT#3 · 10-09-2015, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrianG

I've thought about trying to spay some oil up in the drain holes of mine every so often. Is this a good, or bad idea. If this might help them, what oil or spay should I try spraying up there?

Definitley a good idea. Just some WD40 would do fine. Put the red straw on the can and hose the inside of the rockers real good. My dad bought a 67 LeMans the original owner who used to spray WD behind all the lower trim and the car had basically no rust there. Whereas this was a very common place for them to rot out even 25 years prior to this.

10-08-2015, 06:12 PM	#1
lts70 1970 Daily Driver Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Glenns Ferry IDAHO Posts: 1,038	Stainless steel rocker panels Is there a company out there that produces stainless steel rocker panels for our trucks? It sure would be nice not to have to worry about rust in that area. Put new rocker panels in my daily driver 16 years ago. And now they are roached out again needing replacement both inners and outers __________________ It's not truly yours if you didn't build it yourself or if you don't do your own maintenance.

10-08-2015, 07:05 PM	#2
Xeen Registered User Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Topeka Kansas Posts: 2,655	Re: Stainless steel rocker panels Remove the regular steel rockers and then take them to a metal fabricator and tell him to reproduce them in detail in stainless. __________________ Please call me Brian. Check out My 1972 SWB Fleetside 5.3L Vortec Restomod Build

10-08-2015, 07:49 PM	#4
Redline novdog Registered User Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Washington,Il Posts: 632	Re: Stainless steel rocker panels That would be a 70k truck,piece by piece stamp it stainless. put it together,BAM timeless! Hope somebody does it. that would be sweet! I have not heard of stainless panels,but maybe you are on to something its70!!!! I'm In!! __________________ It builds on my intelligence when I make a mistake, Boy am I building on it! '67 C-10,'70 Nova SS

10-08-2015, 09:20 PM	#7
lts70 1970 Daily Driver Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Glenns Ferry IDAHO Posts: 1,038	Re: Stainless steel rocker panels I wonder how much harder it would be for the companies that build the steel rockers to stamp them out of stainless. I know I would pay the premium for the upgrade. __________________ It's not truly yours if you didn't build it yourself or if you don't do your own maintenance.

10-08-2015, 09:21 PM	#8
Jrainman Registered User Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: North East PA Posts: 684	Re: Stainless steel rocker panels the reason why it is not done is the fact of welding two different types of metals is difficult to weld , being SS has very low carbon amounts it is not that it cant be done but you really have to have good equipment to get good results , Tig or brazing would give best results though, Well there is always the new Ford aluminum body F150 I will say I am not a Ford guy but the paint on those new aluminum body f150 is something to look at , I looked at one at a outdoor show in a dark green and the paint was amazing almost flawless

10-08-2015, 07:21 PM	#3
EARNHARDT#3 Registered User Join Date: May 2014 Location: PA Posts: 1,417	Re: Stainless steel rocker panels I was thinking about this the other day. When installing new rockers, why not cut the bottoms off and coat the inner side with POR15? They'd be protected by the POR15 and they'd also be open so they would dry out all the time and not hold moisture. You wouldn't be able to see that there's no bottom unless you looked underneath. __________________ 1967 C10, LWB, 250, Powerglide, PS, PB, 3/4 STATIC DROP

10-08-2015, 09:36 PM	#9
bill3rail Registered User Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: LI, NY 11801 Posts: 1,140	Re: Stainless steel rocker panels Would love to see a set of these! I'm not a welder and I was curious about dissimilar metal welding procedures... Bill __________________ 1970 C10 8' Fleetside, L6 250, 3 on the Tree. The most basic of pickup trucks!

10-09-2015, 03:41 AM	#15
Clavo106 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Yakima, WA Posts: 362	Re: Stainless steel rocker panels SS ???? /// IF THIS WAS NEVER GOING TO BE PAINTED IT WOULD BE OK./ .. it would probably be better to make the hole truck made of aluminum lite weight and you would just have to polish it every so often. my 2cents

10-09-2015, 07:48 AM	#16
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,851	Re: Stainless steel rocker panels The problem is when stainless touches steel it ain't so stainless anymore. You need all stainless or it will give out where they meet. Just look at a stainless exhaust system. Anywhere the metal mixes is where they fail. __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

10-09-2015, 11:03 AM	#17
EARNHARDT#3 Registered User Join Date: May 2014 Location: PA Posts: 1,417	Re: Stainless steel rocker panels Slap em on with seam sealer LOL __________________ 1967 C10, LWB, 250, Powerglide, PS, PB, 3/4 STATIC DROP

10-09-2015, 11:37 AM	#19
kingstrider Registered User Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Uncle Sam knows Posts: 286	Re: Stainless steel rocker panels FWIW "stainless" is a misnomer and will rust given the right conditions. Even the highest grade of stainless steels found in guns or knives will rust if not cared for. Seems like a long run for a short slide to me. __________________ 1972 Cheyenne Super swb: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=684318

10-09-2015, 12:42 PM	#22
Ironangel Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Falls City, Nebraska "100 Miles From Nowhere" Posts: 2,219	Re: Stainless steel rocker panels I like the idea and would spring for the difference in material costs. As for the welding aspect? The high carbon T-309E is the "stainless to mild steel" alloy in wire or stick and I never seen a rocker rust out at the welds so it's a very doable endeavor. I'm a retired certified welder, it was my job for 40 years to know these things...Aluminum? Now there's a different breed of cat. Nobody's come up with the weld process for aluminum to steel, "yet." As far as those Fords go, the whole fastening process of panel to panel and body to frame has changed completely. No welds involved and are fastened with high tech rivets that bond the aluminum when they are shot into place by mainly robots. I was fortunate enough to work for Ford at the Claycomo truck plant installing some of the various conveyor systems through the years...That's why I drive Old Chevy's! __________________ Michael of the clan Hill, "Two Seventy Two's" 71 1-ton Dually 350 4-Speed 71 C/50 Grain Truck, 350 Split-Axle 4-Speed 02 3/4 ton Express 14 Indian Chief Vintage 1952 Ford 8N, "Only Ford Allowed On The Property" "Be American, Buy American"

10-09-2015, 02:03 PM	#23
WarMonger Registered User Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Ventura, CA Posts: 818	Re: Stainless steel rocker panels you got 16 years out of the last set. That is pretty good. Just put new ones on and go another 16. __________________ ..................... ____ .........________//__{\_____ ,,,,,,,/__(O)___//___/__(O)_/ 1970 C20 -_--_--_- ______ _--_--_- /___\|__\____ -_--_-_ \|_(0)\|__\|_(0)] 1972 K5

10-09-2015, 03:10 PM	#24
BrianG Registered User Join Date: May 2011 Location: Oakley, Michigan Posts: 735	Re: Stainless steel rocker panels I've thought about trying to spay some oil up in the drain holes of mine every so often. Is this a good, or bad idea. If this might help them, what oil or spay should I try spraying up there?



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